Leading Quietly
by Joseph L. Badaracco Jr
Harvard Business School Press had always been one of my favourite publisher. Academics that write well have a certain appeal. Perhaps it is the academic wannabe inside me.
The title and accompanying synopsis attracted me. Leading quietly sounds like what people like myself can realistically aspire to be and achieve.
Too often we are bombarded with the notion that leaders are out in frontline, leading the assualt, giving the pet-talk. We are told and retold stories of how one man save the day. Faces that appears on newspaper, magazine, book covers. We looked and wondered whether mere mortals like us will ever hope to attain that.
As a small business owners, we do not run a thousand person corporate, yet we still lead people. The impact of our decisions and actions may not be big bang, still it affects people.
The book has good stories, well narrated, illustrating the points. As with other books that I read nowaday, I attempt to relate back to the China environment where I’m in.
Since each chapter of the book is a guideline that quiet leader often follows, let’s examine them in my China context.Don’t Kid Yourself
This is absolutely true for China. Do not assume that you understand the intricate web of relationships, hierarchies, underlying meanings, subtle gestures, hidden intentions etc. etc. Tread carefully, discover, learn, refine.
"Realism isn’t pessimsim or cynicism. It is making ample room for the many ways in which people and events can surprise, dismay and astonish."
Trust Mixed Motives
Motives are certainly mixed. Do not put even the slightest hope on altruism. Altruism has no place in the chinese work/business environment. Understand that in the mad rush to get ahead, people ultimately watch for themselves first. Certainly the current state which China is in isn’t condusive for people to think beyond self.
"Would-be leaders need to draw strength from a multitude of motives - high and low, conscious and unconscious, altruistic and self-regarding."
Buy a Little Time
Because of the complex relationship, things does take time to settle. However be wary delay tactics. Expect the chinese to be playing delaying tactics all the time. Set deadlines and find multiple sources, do not pin the hope on just one party.
Learn how to buy time to check things carefully. Do not jump at deals that sounded too good to be true.
All are common place advice, though in China they are just happened to be more common.
"because everyday situation are often more complicated than they first seem, it is important to slow down the merry-go-round and examine these situations with patience and care."
To be continued with part II …
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